* * *
Sam had chosen a silky dress of pale green and the filmy skirt drifted about her calves. The strapless bodice fitted snugly over her small breasts to leave her shoulders bare. “You don’t think It’s too daring, do you, Mum?” she asked.
“Of course not.” Barbara hugged her. “I wouldn’t have let you buy it if I hadn’t thought it just right for you.”
The guests began to arrive, but when Mac still hadn’t turned up an hour later, her anxiety grew. Tossing the scarf that matched her dress over a shoulder, she paced the kitchen. “Where is he?”
“That’s the tenth time you’ve asked. How should I know?” Her mother shrugged. “Give him a ring. Perhaps he’s got a sick animal.”
Of course. That seemed the likeliest reason. Mac had promised to be early.
The Boswell’s housekeeper answered the phone. “I haven’t seen Mr. Mac since he left the house to go riding about three hours ago,” she said. “Would you like me to connect you with the stables?”
“Please.”
As Sam waited for him to answer the stable phone her head whirled with questions. Her friends were dancing to loud music and having a good time. Mac must have had an accident. But that was impossible. He’d never fallen off a horse since he was a five year old learner.
Her relief made her feel weak when the phone was finally picked up. But that relief soon changed to a sense of impending doom when Clare said, “Hello.”
“Is Mac there?” The words cracked in Sam’s throat.
“Sorry, he can’t come to the phone at the moment.” Clare spoke in a near whisper, which puzzled Sam. “We were out riding this afternoon and his stallion went lame. He’s in with it now and told me to pass on his apologies. He won’t be able to make it this evening.”
“Pardon?” Sam felt stupid, her mouth gaping, as the line went dead. She stared at the receiver gripped in her fingers.
He’d been riding with Clare? The pain slicing through her was like a knife cutting into her heart. After the way he’d looked at her this afternoon and promised nothing would keep him away from her party, he’d gone out with that bitch.
Sam thought she might faint, but then common sense prevailed. Mac loved his horse—that was why he was late. She was still staring at the phone when her step-father came into the kitchen. “Robert, would you mind driving me out to the Boswell’s property?” she asked.
Barbara and Robert exchanged a puzzled glance. “What on earth do you want to go out there for?”
“Please, Mum—Mac’s stallion is lame. That’s why he’s late.”
“But what about your guests, Sam? You can’t go haring off in the middle of your party.” Barbara sounded perplexed.
“They won’t miss me. I shouldn’t be gone long. Will you take me, Robert?”
Robert agreed. Later Sam was sure he’d done it in an effort to get into her good books more than anything else. She seldom asked anything of him.
“Well, try not to be too long.” Sam ignored her mother’s remark and her exasperated sigh as she went out the back door while Robert fetched his car keys.
Lonely Pride Page 12